Charity concert to raise funds for Gaza children

Galway artists for Gaza pledge this is ‘first of many’ events

LITTLE JOHN Nee, Rita Ann Higgins, and ska band Big Jelly will be among those taking part in Galway artists for Gaza, a charity concert to raise funds for the children of the bombarded region.

The event takes place on Thursday August 14 at 8pm at Monroe’s Live and is the latest initiative from the ‘Galway artists for Gaza’ group, which was set up by actor, writer, and musician Little John Nee in response to the Israeli bombardment of the tiny enclave which has left 1,917 Palestinians (73 per cent civilians, according to the UN, with a third of these being children ); 64 Israeli soldiers, and three Israeli civilians dead in the past month.

“There was that sense of frustration that children were being killed and our Government was doing nothing about it,” said Little John Nee this week. “I knew there were many artists in Galway who felt like me. I sent a call-out to other artists and I have been blown away by the response of the arts community. This is probably going to be the first of many gigs.”

Nee said the hardest part about the Monroe’s event was having to leave so many artists off the bill, as so many artists and musicians were keen to help out.

All funds raised from the show will go immediately to the Middle East Children’s Alliance which is run by Dr Mona Al-Fara in Gaza.

MECA is a non-profit organisation which has worked for the rights and well-being of Palestinian children through medical aid, counselling centres, and support for children’s projects since 1988.

For more information contact Monroe’s through www.monroes.ie and 091 - 583397.